The Met – along with the Cloisters, the American Museum of Natural History, the Museum of the City of New York, Brooklyn Museum and about a dozen other museums in the city – have long used a “suggested” donation policy rather than imposing a set admission price for visitors.

“If they didn’t do it, I’m not sure I would come,” said Ota, 35, who was recently laid off from a Wall Street job. “I really appreciate that they allow me to pay on a sliding scale.”

“I feel that the museum respects that you can pay what the economy allows you to pay. That way, you can come more often,” she said.

The museums don’t have much choice.

Most are facing a downturn in visitors coupled with sharp drops in funding. They’ll take whatever people can give.

“Visitors are, in fact, giving less at the door on average than they did last year,” noted Harold Holzer, senior vice president for external affairs at the Met, which just announced 74 more job layoffs last week.

Still, across town at the Museum of Natural History, where the suggested admission is $15, people are continuing to pay up.

“For the time being . . . people are paying the suggested donation,” said a spokesman.